North American A-27

The North American A‑27 was a light attack aircraft developed in the mid‑1930s by North American Aviation, originally derived from the Model 8 C series of pursuit planes that had been exported to foreign air forces. In 1937 the United States Army Air Corps ordered a small batch for evaluation, designating the modified version the A‑27. Powered by a single Wright R‑1820 Cyclone radial engine delivering 850 hp, the aircraft featured a robust all‑metal airframe, a low‑wing configuration, and a fixed, split‑type undercarriage that facilitated operation from rough fields. Armament typically comprised two forward‑firing .30‑caliber machine guns and provisions for up to 500 lb of bombs mounted under the wings, giving the type a versatile ground‑attack capability. Though only a handful were produced before the program was cancelled in favor of more advanced designs such as the North American P‑51 Mustang, the A‑27 served as a critical testbed for low‑level attack tactics and helped refine structural and aerodynamic solutions later employed in high‑performance fighters. Its brief service highlighted the transition from biplanes to modern monoplanes and underscored North American Aviation’s emerging role as a leading designer of combat aircraft in the pre‑World War II era.

North American Aviation

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